Calylophus plant named ‘WNCYLALEM’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calylophus  plant named ‘WNCYLALEM’, characterized by its outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing and decumbent plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; freely flowering habit; large light yellow-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane; and excellent garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calylophus hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WNCYLALEM’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Calylophus Plant Named ‘WNCYLASUN’

Application Ser. No. 17/371,431

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calylophus plant, botanically known as Calylophus hybrida, commonly referred to as Texas Primrose and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘WNCYLALEM’.

The new Calylophus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous, freely-branching and uniformly mounding Calylophus plants with numerous attractive flowers, long flowering period and good garden performance.

The new Calylophus plant originated from a self-pollination made by the Inventor on Apr. 25, 2017 in Bonsall, Calif. of a proprietary selection of Calylophus hybrida identified as code number 17TX073-02, not patented. The new Calylophus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Sep. 13, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calylophus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Sep. 18, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Calylophus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calylophus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘WNCYLALEM’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘WNCYLALEM’ as a new and distinct Calylophus plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing and         decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and rapid growth         rate.     -   3 Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large light yellow-colored flowers that are held above and         beyond the foliar plane.     -   6. Excellent garden performance.

Plants of the new Calylophus can be compared to plants of the parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calylophus differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calylophus flower for a longer period of         time than plants of the parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calylophus have larger flowers than plants         of the parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Calylophus are lighter yellow in         color than flowers of plants of the parent selection.

Plants of the new Calylophus can be compared to plants of Calylophus hybrida ‘WNCYLASUN’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calylophus differ primarily from plants of ‘WNCYLASUN’ in flower color as plants of the new Calylophus have lighter yellow-colored flowers than plants of ‘WNCYLASUN’.

Plants of the new Calylophus can be compared to plants of Calylophus drummondianus ‘Southern Belle’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calylophus differ primarily from plants of ‘Southern Belle’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calylophus are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Southern Belle’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calylophus flower for a longer period of         time than plants of ‘Southern Belle’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calylophus have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Southern Belle’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Calylophus are held above and         beyond the foliage whereas flowers of plants of ‘Southern Belle’         are held within the foliar plane.     -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Calylophus are lighter yellow in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Southern Belle’.

Plants of the new Calylophus can also be compared to plants of Oenothera hybrida ‘INNOENO131’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,393. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calylophus differ primarily from plants of ‘INNOENO131’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Calylophus have entire margins         with shallow and widely-space serrations whereas leaves of         plants of ‘INNOENO131’ are entire.     -   2. Plants of the new Calylophus have larger flowers than plants         of ‘INNOENO131’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Calylophus are lighter yellow in         color than flowers of plants of ‘INNOENO131’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calylophus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calylophus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WNCYLALEM’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WNCYLALEM’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in 10.8-cm containers in a corrugated polycarbonate-covered greenhouse in Carlton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calylophus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels averaged 9,290 foot-candles. Plants were pinched three weeks after planting and were ten weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calylophus hybrida ‘WNCYLALEM’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Calylophus             hybrida identified as code number 17TX073-02, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Calylophus             hybrida identified as code number 17TX073-02, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at soil             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at soil             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four weeks at             soil temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About five weeks at             soil temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading and mounding to             eventually trailing and decumbent plant habit; lateral             branches potentially developing at every node, dense and             bushy plant form, pinching enhances development of lateral             branches; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and             rapid growth rate; flowers held above and beyond foliar             plane.         -   Plant height.—About 12 cm to 15 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 46 cm to 61 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 36 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Internode length: About 1.1 cm. Strength: Moderately strong;             flexible, wiry. Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly             spreading to trailing and decumbent. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, developing and             developed: Close to 144A to 144B variably tinged with close             to 60A; with subsequent development, becoming woody, close             to N199B to N199C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple, sessile.         -   Length.—About 2.5 cm to 4.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 3 mm to 4 mm.         -   Shape.—Acicular; curled and reflexed.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate to attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire with shallow and widely-spaced serrations.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; slightly; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; only midvein is readily visible.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144A. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;             venation, close to 147A. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single terminal and             axillary rotate salverform flowers; flowers face mostly             outwardly; freely flowering habit with flowers potentially             forming at every node.         -   Natural flowering season.—Relatively long flowering period,             plants flower from early spring into the autumn, flowering             continuous during this period.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About two to three days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Roughly spherical, squarish. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144A and             144B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Tube diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four petals fused in a             single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 1.8 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Spatulate with cordate tendencies. Petal lobe apex:             Slightly retuse. Petal lobe margin: Entire to shallowly             crenate; slightly undulate. Petal lobe texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy.             Petal lobe texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Tube texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 1C to 1D; towards the throat, close to 1A;             venation, similar to lamina colors; colors do not change             with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 1C; towards the tube, close to 1B to             1C; venation, similar to lamina colors; colors do not change             with subsequent development. Flower throat (inside): Close             to 1A; venation, close to 1A. Flower tube (outside): Close             to 144B; venation, close to 144B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four sepals fused in a             single whorl. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 4.5 mm.             Shape: Narrowly deltoid. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening and fully             developed, upper surface: Close to 144B to 144C. When             opening and fully developed, lower surface: Close to 144A to             144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong; flexible, wiry. Angle: About 45° from             stein axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About             eight. Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close             to 154D. Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape:             Oblong. Anther color: Close to 154D. Pollen amount: Moderate             to abundant. Pollen color: Close to 6A. Pistils: Quantity             per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length:             About 1 cm. Style color: Close to 154D. Stigma diameter:             About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Four-lobed. Stigma color: Close to             144B. Ovary color: Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has             not been observed on plants of the new Calylophus. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calylophus     have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to     Calylophus plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calylophus have been observed     to have excellent garden performance and have been observed to     tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to     about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calylophus plant named ‘WNCYLALEM’ as illustrated and described. 